Idols—American and Otherwise

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Do you recognize any of these names?

·      Owen D. Young

·      Harlow Curtiss

·      James F. Byrnes

·      David Ho

·      Pierre Laval

·      Andy Grove

·      Harlow Curtis

·      Hugh Johnson 

·      Jeff Bezos

Here’s a hint: TIME MAGAZINE

OK, having said that, you still probably don’t know how these people rose to fame, but they are world-changing people. Since 1927, Time Magazine has promoted their “People of the Year.” Each of the names above is people judged by Time Magazine as having the greatest impact on humanity during a given year.

Most of us, if we would honestly admit it, want to think that, in some way, we are special. Perhaps that is why the business of “celebrity” is so successful—we revel in their fame by proxy.

Even our TV shows reflect that. Among the highest rated shows include: American Idol, The Celebrity Apprentice, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, The Great Race and other “reality” shows. With rapt attention, we can hardly wait to see who the winners will be.

Add to that the “award” shows, which also get high ratings: Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, CMA Awards, American Music Awards, S.A.G Awards, People’s Choice Awards, need I go on?

Do you find yourself at times wishing to be like, or having what these “celebrities” have? If your answer is, “Yes,” the Psalmist offers this reality check for you—for all of us, really. It’s found in Psalm 102:11-12. In part it says, “My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.”

One of my seminary professors took it a step farther. He was fond of saying, “According to the Bible, mankind was made from the dust of the ground. Whenever you sense any degree of pride in your life, remember you’re nothing but a living dirt clod.”

Let me finish the quote from Psalm 102 because the Psalmist made a remarkable comparison in verse 12, “But you, O LORD, are sovereign still, always and ever sovereign.”

Christ followers understand that when we have the God of the universe before us, there is no need for the exaltation of man. Here is J. I. Packer on this matter:

The Christian's instincts of trust and worship are stimulated very powerfully by knowledge of the greatness of God.  But this is knowledge, which Christians today largely lack; that is one reason why our faith is so feeble and our worship so flabby.  We are modern men, and modern men—though they cherish great thoughts of man—have, as a rule, small thought of God.

My former pastor and mentor, Dr. Richard Strauss of Emmanuel Faith Community Church, repeated over and over, “Walk low before the Lord. He is sovereign—the highest and best, and does what He pleases in heaven and in earth.”

We would do well to care less about the details of the lives of celebrities, stars, and yes, idols, and ponder, “BUT YOU, O LORD…”